Arrogance combined with egotism and selfishness.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 7 October 2023 source ↗
values
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
A verbatim standing question in The Guardian's rotating Q&A questionnaire, documented across respondents and years.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
One of 24 questions in The Q&A here.
On the record
Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.
Read by field
Everyone
Arts and letters 51
Politics and public life 4
Business and finance 1
Sport 1
Read by age
Any age
In their thirties 10
In their forties 10
In their fifties 15
In their sixties 11
Seventy and beyond 11
Trolling, meanness and male violence.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 30 March 2024 source ↗
Not listening to me.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 8 March 2025 source ↗
People not remembering who I am.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 24 May 2025 source ↗
People who think they’re always right.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 31 May 2025 source ↗
People who aren’t kind enough.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 2 August 2025 source ↗
I’m irritated by critics and academics who dismiss poetry that is popular, comprehensible or humorous.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 10 January 2026 source ↗
Inability to listen.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 11 April 2026 source ↗
Trying to exercise authority over one.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 20 June 2026 source ↗
Complaining about the weather, because there’s nothing you can do about it. There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 27 June 2026 source ↗
When they don’t tell the truth.
Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 22 August 2026 source ↗
0 answers from members
Nobody has answered this one yet.